Gevangenname van een gezin 1818 - 1873

This print, titled 'Gevangenname van een gezin,' or 'Captivity of a Family' was made by Charles-Amédée Colin. As a print, this work is intimately tied to the rise of mass media in the 19th century. Engraving allowed for the relatively quick reproduction of imagery, for distribution among a wide audience. The image itself depicts the death of King Chram and his family. It is skillfully rendered with close attention to detail and line work. The stark monochrome serves to amplify the drama of the scene, and lends a somber tone. Although prints are often overlooked as simply being reproductive and therefore somehow less important than paintings or sculptures, they represent a democratization of imagery. Here, we have a relatively inexpensive artwork that could be widely distributed, and easily shared. This has significant implications for the dissemination of ideas, aesthetics, and cultural values. This print participates in a larger conversation about the role of art in society, and its relationship to issues of labor, politics, and consumption.